Just an observation - nowhere in the review did I see mention of the
world 'beauty', or the suggestion that love of nature stems from a
love of beauty. As to whether it is wrong, or somehow detrimental,
for scientists to be emotionally connected to nature, I suspect that
as in most things, the key is balance.
Heather Reynolds
Associate Professor
Department of Biology
Jordan Hall 142
Indiana University
1001 E 3rd Street
Bloomington IN 47405
Ph: (812) 855-0792
Fax: (812) 855-6705
[email protected]
On Jan 6, 2009, at 8:01 AM, William Silvert wrote:
Although this sounds like a lovely book, I am not terribly
comfortable with the concept, at least not in connetion with an
ecology mailing list. Part of our work as scientists is promoting a
rational, rather than romantic, concern for our environment, and
while some of us (like Ehrlich) may have gotten involved with
ecology because of an emotional attachment to beautiful creatures,
many of us are having difficulty defending the role of the ugly and
even disgusting organisms that are an essential part of ecosystems
(such as detritivores).
I am curious to know how many parasitologists and mycologists feel
that their life's work was rooted in some "rapturous love affair"
with tapeworms or mildew. Who ever fell in love with nematodes and
polychaetes? (Although my late friend Peter Schwinghamer had a sign
over his door saying "Worms can teach us awe and wonder.")
My concern has a practical side to it. There are seal species far
more at risk than harp seals, but mottled grey beasts with nasty
teeth do not seem to attract the support of anti-sealing
campaigners. It is hard to argue that the biodiversity of beautiful
flowers in Costa Rica is more vital to our survival than the worms
crawling around in the mud of the North Sea, but much of the
emphasis on conservation of biodiversity focusses on tropical hot
spots rather than the low and dirty.
I don't want to discourage anyone from enjoying the beauty of the
natural enviornment, but I also want to remind the scientific
community that ecology is not about beauty, it is about systems that
often do not appeal to our aesthetic sense. I like my work, but
manage not to get too emotionally involved!
Bill Silvert
----- Original Message ----- From: "Jamie Reaser" <[email protected]
>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, January 05, 2009 10:44 PM
Subject: [ECOLOG-L] New Book for Nature Enthusiasts
Dear Nature Enthusiasts -
Hiraeth Press and Ecos Systems Institute are please to announce the
publication of:Courting the Wild: Love Affairs with the Land,
edited by
Dr. Jamie K. Reaser and Ms. Susan Chernak McElroy.
Do you remember the first time you fell in love?
Within these pages will you find love stories, rapturous love
affairs with
the land, longings, shameless seductions, betrothals, vows exchanged,
marriages of the soul, heartaches, partings, healings, and
renewals. The
authors are the courters and the courted.Their landscape paramours
embrace
them and they grow forth from within.
"A stirring book.filled with transcendent and highly personal
moments of
revelation, of awe, reverence, and love for nature.the profound
truth and
magic of becoming one with life on Earth. This book is for anyone
anywhere.from the camper's backpack to bedside tables." - Dr. Thomas
Lovejoy, President, The H. John Heinz III Center for Science,
Economics
and the Environment
"Like many ecologists, I had a love affair with nature (especially
with
butterflies) long before I became a scientist. The love affairs
described
here will either tell you what I mean, or remind you of your own
affair.
Either way, you'll enjoy them." - Dr. Paul Ehrlich, co-author of the
Dominant Animal: Human Evolution and the Environment
Available from:
- Hiraeth Press: www.hiraethpress.com
- www.amazon.com
A limited number of signed copies are available, contact Dr. Jamie K.
Reaser at [email protected]. If you'd like to help promote the
book,
please e-mail Jamie for a flyer.
